sigh.
so if you don't know already- which you should, and deepest apologies if somehow you were not informed- I canceled the contract with AFS while abroad in Malaysia, no not Mongolia as so many people seem to think. they were not fulfilling their end of the contract so I felt it only fair to end the deal. I am not okay with paying people to not do their job. I got into a legal battle, if you will.
things got real messy with my living situation(s), volunteer job, and relations with the company. once I canceled the contract that in turn canceled my visa... not part of my plan.
I was going to use the money I demanded they return and live off of it, planning more excursions and living arrangements.
however, with my visa being canceled I had a little less than a month to leave or be deported. the company was kind enough to give me about two weeks and said if I took that flight they would pay for my air fare. if I were to wait and stay for two additional weeks on my own penny, then the flight back would also be on me. so being the penny pinchin' nineteen year old that I am, but even more so I wasn't about to live on my own in southeast asia, a young white American teenage girl, without a plan, anyone to trust, or insurance of any kind. therefore I embraced my final days and took their free ticket to journey back to my homeland, the United States of America, safe and sound on April 19.
I had many mixed emotions with returning. to be honest, I slightly still do.
if the trip went as planned, then I would definitely still be there. or not necessarily exactly as planned. I needed: a home. security. a network of people to begin to trust and share with from day to day. I needed life.
it was out of my hands, but I cannot help but toy with the idea of -- what if it was not entirely out of my hands. maybe I made a few wrong moves, pulling out the wrong block collapsing my Malaysian adventure to topple.
the trip was beginning to be very unhealthy for me, but I managed to walk away growing from the experience. with the way my trip was turning out for me, I know coming home was what needed to happen. I have a bed. I have food. I have a roof over my head. I have somewhere to bathe. I have friends. but most importantly, I have family that loves me, and I love them back so very much.
there were a lot of firsts on the trip:
longest flight I've ever flown
getting out of America
staying in hostels
maneuvering around a country on my own
using public transportation
living out of my parent's home
asserting myself to the point of asking if I may move into an acquaintances' home
many new foods
being the minority in the entire country
simply surviving on my own
making a company shred their contract and give me a full refund (which in the contract states not a penny will be returned to the participant)
I didn't message for a long time because I either didn't have internet or I didn't want to write with a negative tone. which could then lead to y'all panicking back home, but not being able to reach me. then I didn't message right once I got back because I kind of hid from everyone for a while. I wasn't ready to explain to everyone over and over what happened. it breaks my heart that the trip fell through. I really cannot express how ecstatic I was about this trip. it's something I had dreamed about for years. someday I will go back to southeast asia. mark my words.
now I at least have some traveling experience. this was a learning experience one could not ask to receive.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
internet pooted
argh.
well mates, i wrote a lovely note for y'all, as promised yesterday, then the internet farted and the note has now vanished..
so now i'm going to rest my head and try again tomorrow.
sweet dreams, to me.. question mark.
well mates, i wrote a lovely note for y'all, as promised yesterday, then the internet farted and the note has now vanished..
so now i'm going to rest my head and try again tomorrow.
sweet dreams, to me.. question mark.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
taking it as it comes
i am alive and well. apologies for not posting lately, i've gotten out of the swing of this blogging business. i'll work at posting more (:
so i work at kiwanis down syndrome foundation (KDSF), established september 1989. it is a school for children with down syndrome starting at the age of 2 months up to six years. the purpose is to prepare the children to attend public schools and equip them with basic skills for life and maximize their potential.
i work with the 5 & 6 year old class the most, but sometimes i assist with the 3 & 4 year old class. the students come monday through thursday at either a morning or afternoon session. each session is three hours long. the teachers (and i) arrive are expected to arrive at 8:30am and stay till 4:30pm. we have an hour lunch break at noon.
lunch: turns out my family doesn't have to provide lunch for me but luckily they have let me pack a lunch to help me save money. if i don't pack a lunch i can pay 5 ringgit for the school chef, uncle mike, to make me something (he typically makes some sort of noodles or rice- surprise surprise, that's what you always have here-- but you can request something a little more specific. ie fried rice or noodles with no beef. you can't get too specific). or some of the ladies go out for lunch, but most just buy from uncle mike monday through thursday. then on friday we all go out together to a restaurant.
the ladies that work there are so sweet! they are all so kind to me and i've made some friends. a few have even invited me out to eat, go shopping, or to travel with them on the weekend. i have only gone shopping so far. i am going to church, i believe?, tomorrow with one of the girls. then next weekend i have dinner plans with another lady to eat at an indian restaurant, banana leaf. a few of them leave on the weekends to go to their home towns and have invited me to come sometime. i really want to make that happen so i can see some villages and local beaches. fit in some malaysian site seeing on the weekends.
transportation: the house i am at currently has issues with this. which is why it is a temporary house for me. every day is a hassle trying to get to work and back. i should have been posting updates about that every day.. it's been eventful. so in order to go out i have to call a cab and that is very expensive. so i try and get rides as often as possible but all the people i know live on the opposite side of town. so i get rides half-ish way to shopping malls and then grab a cab.
cabs: they are not always safe. lots of times the driver is from indonesia and speaks very poor english, if any at all. they don't always know where places are (and i clearly can't give directions..). they don't always use the meter and will force you to pay more because i'm foreign. if you call one to come to you it is a two more ringgit. they tend to drive slow or take the long path and since i don't speak bahasa i can't argue or tell them anything.
so i stay around the house waiting to see what the parents are going to do.. most the time, it's nothing. or the dad will leave to golf and the mom will be at work. i miss having a car. luckily the house is very nice and i am comfortable here. i love my bed and own bathroom. i read, nap, watch movies, walk on the treadmill, journal, color.. yes i color (got a couple sheets from kiwanis).
this weekend: not too eventful. jeffery, my host brother, left for australia this morning. he is going there for a year and half to study. so now the parents are just relaxing around the house since it's been nuts preparing for him to leave over the past week. we did have a huge function monday night here at the house with probably a hundred people in attendance. hmm, i think i'll go to church tomorrow and then go out to the markets with the mom. this is said without certainty because i never truly know what is to come anymore. i only know what is happening about ten minutes in advance now-a-days. i might try and telephone of some afs student volunteers tonight to see about going to the cinema (as they call it).
i don't want to post too much so that way you will actually bother reading.. at least i know when i see a long article i tend to skip it. i'd read more articles of shorter length than one long one. so i shall post tomorrow, promise.
also, no update still on a permanent family.. but it has been requested to send me letters to my work place so i figure that should be a-okay. address as follows:
Lot 13490, Jalan Jenjarum
Off Jalan SS23/1
Taman SEA
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
kiwanis website: Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation
i'm learning this lesson currently:
i have no real control of what is to come.
my ways of constantly planning, feeling like i have a complete grasp on tomorrow, are vanishing. lately, the most of the future He allows me to know is what is coming in the next ten minutes. example: (i lay my head down at night not always knowing how i'll even get to work).
the Lord has a plan.
He is in control.
all i can do is be silent and listen. He will prepare you if you are obedient to His commands.
gotta have faith.
^^^i'm working on this ability/lifestyle. not easy for me. i love "having" control. i'll be honest.
keep praying!
so i work at kiwanis down syndrome foundation (KDSF), established september 1989. it is a school for children with down syndrome starting at the age of 2 months up to six years. the purpose is to prepare the children to attend public schools and equip them with basic skills for life and maximize their potential.
i work with the 5 & 6 year old class the most, but sometimes i assist with the 3 & 4 year old class. the students come monday through thursday at either a morning or afternoon session. each session is three hours long. the teachers (and i) arrive are expected to arrive at 8:30am and stay till 4:30pm. we have an hour lunch break at noon.
lunch: turns out my family doesn't have to provide lunch for me but luckily they have let me pack a lunch to help me save money. if i don't pack a lunch i can pay 5 ringgit for the school chef, uncle mike, to make me something (he typically makes some sort of noodles or rice- surprise surprise, that's what you always have here-- but you can request something a little more specific. ie fried rice or noodles with no beef. you can't get too specific). or some of the ladies go out for lunch, but most just buy from uncle mike monday through thursday. then on friday we all go out together to a restaurant.
the ladies that work there are so sweet! they are all so kind to me and i've made some friends. a few have even invited me out to eat, go shopping, or to travel with them on the weekend. i have only gone shopping so far. i am going to church, i believe?, tomorrow with one of the girls. then next weekend i have dinner plans with another lady to eat at an indian restaurant, banana leaf. a few of them leave on the weekends to go to their home towns and have invited me to come sometime. i really want to make that happen so i can see some villages and local beaches. fit in some malaysian site seeing on the weekends.
transportation: the house i am at currently has issues with this. which is why it is a temporary house for me. every day is a hassle trying to get to work and back. i should have been posting updates about that every day.. it's been eventful. so in order to go out i have to call a cab and that is very expensive. so i try and get rides as often as possible but all the people i know live on the opposite side of town. so i get rides half-ish way to shopping malls and then grab a cab.
cabs: they are not always safe. lots of times the driver is from indonesia and speaks very poor english, if any at all. they don't always know where places are (and i clearly can't give directions..). they don't always use the meter and will force you to pay more because i'm foreign. if you call one to come to you it is a two more ringgit. they tend to drive slow or take the long path and since i don't speak bahasa i can't argue or tell them anything.
so i stay around the house waiting to see what the parents are going to do.. most the time, it's nothing. or the dad will leave to golf and the mom will be at work. i miss having a car. luckily the house is very nice and i am comfortable here. i love my bed and own bathroom. i read, nap, watch movies, walk on the treadmill, journal, color.. yes i color (got a couple sheets from kiwanis).
this weekend: not too eventful. jeffery, my host brother, left for australia this morning. he is going there for a year and half to study. so now the parents are just relaxing around the house since it's been nuts preparing for him to leave over the past week. we did have a huge function monday night here at the house with probably a hundred people in attendance. hmm, i think i'll go to church tomorrow and then go out to the markets with the mom. this is said without certainty because i never truly know what is to come anymore. i only know what is happening about ten minutes in advance now-a-days. i might try and telephone of some afs student volunteers tonight to see about going to the cinema (as they call it).
i don't want to post too much so that way you will actually bother reading.. at least i know when i see a long article i tend to skip it. i'd read more articles of shorter length than one long one. so i shall post tomorrow, promise.
also, no update still on a permanent family.. but it has been requested to send me letters to my work place so i figure that should be a-okay. address as follows:
Lot 13490, Jalan Jenjarum
Off Jalan SS23/1
Taman SEA
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
kiwanis website: Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation
i'm learning this lesson currently:
i have no real control of what is to come.
my ways of constantly planning, feeling like i have a complete grasp on tomorrow, are vanishing. lately, the most of the future He allows me to know is what is coming in the next ten minutes. example: (i lay my head down at night not always knowing how i'll even get to work).
the Lord has a plan.
He is in control.
all i can do is be silent and listen. He will prepare you if you are obedient to His commands.
gotta have faith.
^^^i'm working on this ability/lifestyle. not easy for me. i love "having" control. i'll be honest.
keep praying!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
xīn nián kuài lè
the chinese new year lasts a total of fifteen days.. yeah. no joke. quite the process.. someday i want to stay in hong kong or somewhere in china for the whole celebration. mark my words. it is truly fascinating. so much history.
lion dance! so i finally got to see a lion dance. this has to do with the chinese new year. i live with malays so i wasn't surrounded with chinese new year celebrations or information but they did inform me somewhat. so this is what i gathered: chinese families will hire a lion dance company to come to their home because the belief is that this blesses your home and wards off evil spirits. this is crucial to do when a family has recently moved into a new home.
botta boom botta' bang: that's why they have the drums and later in the night pop fire crackers. they are the noisy kind, not the big beautiful ones. (i mean, sure in the big cities they'll have a display show but fireworks are illegal here to begin with but since it has to do with their beliefs, they get away with the noisy ones).anywho, the lion performs doing a dance and stunts then he will take a melon/oranges and crouch down to prepare it, then he lifts up and pushes it out for the head of the house to receive. after that the family will have the lion come through the home to brush it's paw on tables/beds etc. to bless it. companies/schools will have celebrations too and hire the lion to come perform. this was a low key lion dance.. i really would love to see one of the famous lion dances with the dragon dances as well. (like in mulan!!?) ahah. i asked if they had any parades like that and nobody knew what i was talking about...
also, they give out red envelopes, also called hong bao (mandarin), which have money inside. they will hand them to the lion dance performers but it is tradition to give them to all who are unmarried. once you are married, you give one to your parents and then you must give to all who are unmarried. oranges: these represent gold for their color and that they will bring wealth. so everyone is giving/getting mandarins. every business has them as well as every home. for the past two weeks i have had more mandarins than ever before in my life.
red, translates to: "prosperous" and it is everywhere. reason: suppose to ward off evil spirts and scare off bad fortune. but it also symbolizes virtue and sincerity.
gold: brings wealth and luck.
i know they gamble a lot during the new year so men will gather and play poker during the nights. one night we had six men over and they played well into the morning playing poker and TEXAS HOLD 'EM. i felt a fool for not knowing how to play... so i walked on the treadmill and read instead of sitting watching them play and chain smoke for hours.i wish i had more to share about the new year... especially since it lasts so long. but i know that most of the chinese people around here even leave for quite a bit of the holiday to go home to the husband's parents home. so kuala lumpur was pretty quiet for a few days.
lastly, mcdonalds celebrates the chinese new year with selling a prosperity burger. i snapped a shot of the advertisement i saw promoting their double prosperity burger for y'all. they apparently do this every year with offering a "chicken" or "beef" burger. i'm not trying this food. sorry guys.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
bad news barista.
let's do coffee.
geographical event.
i never realized this until malaysia.
america: i thought that meant, we're meeting up at a coffee shop (most likely starbucks) and we'll chat while sipping on beverages for a short while. then we go our seperate ways.
-no foods are forced.
-most the time women in america will split a pastry and blush at the deciding to get it.
-or they will reject it all together.
-hell, or you will buy yourself something and chow down on your own without any guilt... well maybe some guilt.
point is, the food aspect. that is your decision in america. your fate has not been set out before you. the decision lies in your hands, and you fear not offending anyone with whatever decision is made.
malaysia: that means people are coming over or we're going there.
we might have a meal first?
or some sort of food will be served. <<<that i guarantee.
you must receive the food.
eat.
you may, if your name is talley: slip it into your purse / toss it below the table / "accidentally" spill / sneak it onto another plate / below the plate / give dish quickly to maid / hide food with orange peel-- got caught on that one / sneak food onto child's plate / -or if you're a pro, spit into a napkin
(another thing, they never have napkins?)
then coffee or tea will be offered.
let's expand on this shall we.
they all drink instant coffee?!!?!??!!!!
questioned it.
pushed it away.
fought it.
then hesitantly slurpped.
began to drink it.
dealt with it.
slowly requested it.
now i make it...
this upsets me to think about. i miss coffee. real coffee. i want nothing more than to grind some beans and steam some milk (not weird cardboard box milk either might i add, i want my organic cold horizon milk or i'd take braums but not this. not this room temperature wanna be milk nonsense).
i want a venti casi cielo coffee with one inch of 180 degree foamy whole milk with cinnamon on top.
fedex me one please. thanks.
back to the explanation of this event:
so when they bring out your coffee- it will have a teaspoon in it, because you have to stir it since it is made with instant coffee crystals...
they all put sugar in it and rarely ever do they put milk.
this always calls for trouble for me: i never put sugar in coffee.
if anything, i'd accept milk in it. i had them take my coffee back twice now due to sugar.
i can't and i won't do it. i'm not that polite. it's icky to my tongue. sorry world.
if they put milk, it is the box milk. which is most often soy.
then they bring some sort of crazy dessert that i hesitate to put in my mouth
--for those of y'all that don't know me well.. i'm not a dessert person to begin with, then these desserts.. they are hmmm, interesting one would politely state. maybe it is my poor dessert palate? i'll take that.
if i'm lucky, i get fresh fruit. this, now this i live for.
yummy fresh fruit in my tummy.
until they make me finish the plate so none goes to waste...
then it takes away from the beauty.
this hasn't happened but a couple times,
so don't view it negatively. just know, it can happen.
that is coffee talk.
geographical event.
i never realized this until malaysia.
america: i thought that meant, we're meeting up at a coffee shop (most likely starbucks) and we'll chat while sipping on beverages for a short while. then we go our seperate ways.
-no foods are forced.
-most the time women in america will split a pastry and blush at the deciding to get it.
-or they will reject it all together.
-hell, or you will buy yourself something and chow down on your own without any guilt... well maybe some guilt.
point is, the food aspect. that is your decision in america. your fate has not been set out before you. the decision lies in your hands, and you fear not offending anyone with whatever decision is made.
malaysia: that means people are coming over or we're going there.
we might have a meal first?
or some sort of food will be served. <<<that i guarantee.
you must receive the food.
eat.
you may, if your name is talley: slip it into your purse / toss it below the table / "accidentally" spill / sneak it onto another plate / below the plate / give dish quickly to maid / hide food with orange peel-- got caught on that one / sneak food onto child's plate / -or if you're a pro, spit into a napkin
(another thing, they never have napkins?)
then coffee or tea will be offered.
let's expand on this shall we.
they all drink instant coffee?!!?!??!!!!
questioned it.
pushed it away.
fought it.
then hesitantly slurpped.
began to drink it.
dealt with it.
slowly requested it.
now i make it...
this upsets me to think about. i miss coffee. real coffee. i want nothing more than to grind some beans and steam some milk (not weird cardboard box milk either might i add, i want my organic cold horizon milk or i'd take braums but not this. not this room temperature wanna be milk nonsense).
i want a venti casi cielo coffee with one inch of 180 degree foamy whole milk with cinnamon on top.
fedex me one please. thanks.
back to the explanation of this event:
so when they bring out your coffee- it will have a teaspoon in it, because you have to stir it since it is made with instant coffee crystals...
they all put sugar in it and rarely ever do they put milk.
this always calls for trouble for me: i never put sugar in coffee.
if anything, i'd accept milk in it. i had them take my coffee back twice now due to sugar.
i can't and i won't do it. i'm not that polite. it's icky to my tongue. sorry world.
if they put milk, it is the box milk. which is most often soy.
then they bring some sort of crazy dessert that i hesitate to put in my mouth
--for those of y'all that don't know me well.. i'm not a dessert person to begin with, then these desserts.. they are hmmm, interesting one would politely state. maybe it is my poor dessert palate? i'll take that.
if i'm lucky, i get fresh fruit. this, now this i live for.
yummy fresh fruit in my tummy.
until they make me finish the plate so none goes to waste...
then it takes away from the beauty.
this hasn't happened but a couple times,
so don't view it negatively. just know, it can happen.
that is coffee talk.
answers to questions.
ahah, mom. thanks, i do enjoy writing. i'm gonna try and answer all your questions. here i go.
1. the marshmallow hidden camera would end up in a monkeys belly and i'd probably end up in jail? ahah, i don't know if it is legal or not to feed them? i play everything safe here. i prefer to not get in trouble. they have double standards. but doesn't everywhere?
2. i will work on picture snapin' and postin' for you and everyone else. i took a ton of photos at the beginning then i stopped. question mark.
3. we went for coffee at that home... we do that everywhere. i was actually getting online to post about "coffee" so, i'll do that next. therefore, refer to my post for further explanation.
4. i am still in love with their home. felt i should state that.
5. due to the chinese new year, i am still not informed of anything. i have no solid answers. i am taking my days as they are given to me. the most i know of the future is what may come in the next ten minutes. i'm having a difficult time with this. i love plans. i love knowing the future, or at least feeling that i have a grasp on what is to come. for the first time in my life i am having to accept that i have no real control of the future. i have given it all to the Lord. may his will be done with my days here and furthermore, my life.
6. as soon as i have a solid address i will do a "hallelujah hannah" (mallory, remember her???!) dance then post some information for y'all.
7. i'm not missing y'alls weather. not one bit.
8. my favorite number.
9. current weather outside my window: storm galore. thunder that will jolt you to your toes. i'm into it. i am sitting backwards on the bed to face the windows where i am able to watch the sky pour itself out so much that the grass can't drink it quick enough.
1. the marshmallow hidden camera would end up in a monkeys belly and i'd probably end up in jail? ahah, i don't know if it is legal or not to feed them? i play everything safe here. i prefer to not get in trouble. they have double standards. but doesn't everywhere?
2. i will work on picture snapin' and postin' for you and everyone else. i took a ton of photos at the beginning then i stopped. question mark.
3. we went for coffee at that home... we do that everywhere. i was actually getting online to post about "coffee" so, i'll do that next. therefore, refer to my post for further explanation.
4. i am still in love with their home. felt i should state that.
5. due to the chinese new year, i am still not informed of anything. i have no solid answers. i am taking my days as they are given to me. the most i know of the future is what may come in the next ten minutes. i'm having a difficult time with this. i love plans. i love knowing the future, or at least feeling that i have a grasp on what is to come. for the first time in my life i am having to accept that i have no real control of the future. i have given it all to the Lord. may his will be done with my days here and furthermore, my life.
6. as soon as i have a solid address i will do a "hallelujah hannah" (mallory, remember her???!) dance then post some information for y'all.
7. i'm not missing y'alls weather. not one bit.
8. my favorite number.
9. current weather outside my window: storm galore. thunder that will jolt you to your toes. i'm into it. i am sitting backwards on the bed to face the windows where i am able to watch the sky pour itself out so much that the grass can't drink it quick enough.
Friday, February 4, 2011
no sense of time
currently i am sitting outside beside the fountain with a breeze blowing through my hair while listening to motor bikes and the maid's young daughter teach malay to another foreign traveler from panama.
the weather is (:
i can't get enough of this spanish style home/life. --i would refer to it being spanish.. i hope they don't see this and say "it is malay style!" ahaha. but i know y'all will understand my comparison. i think?
dinner yesterday:
squid with red chilies in oil
prawns with cabbage, onion, peppers, green chilies in oil
fried triangle thing with stuff in it? -i managed to avoid.
cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes
white rice
dessert:
coffee
mandarin oranges, bananas, cat eyes (which are fruit but they look like cat eyes)
they also had chocolate bark available
*got distracted, got back to this post many hours later*
i could make constant posts on the food alone. i have eaten more strange things in the past few days than ever before in my life. every meal, something new. and there are a lot of meals. i have learned to take as small as a portion as possible with being socially acceptable because most likely, i'm going to be fed again very very soon.
for instance:
went for a walk
went out for breakfast
went to visit a house- fed again
went home-
had food offered
then fruit was put out
bike ride
read
went to aunts for "rice" which was late lunch?
served deserts and coffee
came home for "supper"
time delay: read
went downstairs once supper was finished
then fruits and chocolate were served
**time to expand:
so the park: wow! beautiful. i took some photos but they said it was bare and the water was funny colored because of the heavy rain last night so i refrained from posting. we will go back. apparently the mom goes every saturday and sunday morning. and that's when a waterfall should be turned on, the park full, and thai chi lessons are taking place in the middle of the park! so i will be sure to snap more photos.
MONKEYS!! yes it is true. they had them all over the park. i don't know what else to say other than holy moly! i saw monkeys, not one, but many many monkeys and there was no glass between us. they sat on the trash bins, or walked across the sidewalk, or hopped between trees. i'll try and get some sneaky photos of those too!
the mansion/resort/swiss family robinson/paradise: the steep secluded drive way was so far up the mountain that my ears popped on the way to the gate. they had a special gate with their own guards. there was eh, who knows how many cars (not hondas either ahaha) i'd guess sixteen cars? i think more. i'll make them sound modest. HAH. actually, the family was very humble. there are six seperate towers. one is a grand big home, one is the guest, one for the daughter who actually lives in australia, two for each of the sons, and one for the maids/gardeners/guards/driver. then they all surround the pool and they overlook kuala lumpur. they have covered seating every where with outdoor kitchens and so much plant life. they have monkey problems here, which i found humorous but nobody else does... i guess if this were home i'd be upset too if monkeys came through my windows and got into my food or threw the coconuts at my car. i'd actually be really upset. this place was incredible. i wanted to take photos but i figured that'd be really odd for everyone.. so i didn't. but it was gorgeous! so so peaceful.
most interesting meal today: late lunch:
dried anchovies with curry powder and heated (i tried to explain... i'll get back to you all more on this thing)
fried eggs with a sauce of onions, peppers, oyster sauce, and sweet soy
curried lady fingers with fish
cabbage and carrots cooked with some oil
white rice
tea and this green water (due to the plants they put in it)
the weather is (:
i can't get enough of this spanish style home/life. --i would refer to it being spanish.. i hope they don't see this and say "it is malay style!" ahaha. but i know y'all will understand my comparison. i think?
dinner yesterday:
squid with red chilies in oil
prawns with cabbage, onion, peppers, green chilies in oil
fried triangle thing with stuff in it? -i managed to avoid.
cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes
white rice
dessert:
coffee
mandarin oranges, bananas, cat eyes (which are fruit but they look like cat eyes)
they also had chocolate bark available
*got distracted, got back to this post many hours later*
i could make constant posts on the food alone. i have eaten more strange things in the past few days than ever before in my life. every meal, something new. and there are a lot of meals. i have learned to take as small as a portion as possible with being socially acceptable because most likely, i'm going to be fed again very very soon.
for instance:
went for a walk
went out for breakfast
went to visit a house- fed again
went home-
had food offered
then fruit was put out
bike ride
read
went to aunts for "rice" which was late lunch?
served deserts and coffee
came home for "supper"
time delay: read
went downstairs once supper was finished
then fruits and chocolate were served
**time to expand:
so the park: wow! beautiful. i took some photos but they said it was bare and the water was funny colored because of the heavy rain last night so i refrained from posting. we will go back. apparently the mom goes every saturday and sunday morning. and that's when a waterfall should be turned on, the park full, and thai chi lessons are taking place in the middle of the park! so i will be sure to snap more photos.
MONKEYS!! yes it is true. they had them all over the park. i don't know what else to say other than holy moly! i saw monkeys, not one, but many many monkeys and there was no glass between us. they sat on the trash bins, or walked across the sidewalk, or hopped between trees. i'll try and get some sneaky photos of those too!
the mansion/resort/swiss family robinson/paradise: the steep secluded drive way was so far up the mountain that my ears popped on the way to the gate. they had a special gate with their own guards. there was eh, who knows how many cars (not hondas either ahaha) i'd guess sixteen cars? i think more. i'll make them sound modest. HAH. actually, the family was very humble. there are six seperate towers. one is a grand big home, one is the guest, one for the daughter who actually lives in australia, two for each of the sons, and one for the maids/gardeners/guards/driver. then they all surround the pool and they overlook kuala lumpur. they have covered seating every where with outdoor kitchens and so much plant life. they have monkey problems here, which i found humorous but nobody else does... i guess if this were home i'd be upset too if monkeys came through my windows and got into my food or threw the coconuts at my car. i'd actually be really upset. this place was incredible. i wanted to take photos but i figured that'd be really odd for everyone.. so i didn't. but it was gorgeous! so so peaceful.
most interesting meal today: late lunch:
dried anchovies with curry powder and heated (i tried to explain... i'll get back to you all more on this thing)
fried eggs with a sauce of onions, peppers, oyster sauce, and sweet soy
curried lady fingers with fish
cabbage and carrots cooked with some oil
white rice
tea and this green water (due to the plants they put in it)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
lethargic
that's the word of the day.
i smile.
i sit.
i pray.
i make rice.
i chat.
i sip tea.
i watch.
i journal.
i stand.
i thank God.
i make coffee.
i observe.
i read.
i wash dishes.
i breathe.
i learn.
i blog.
i follow.
i mess up.
i laugh.
i think.
i listen.
i sip coffee.
i eat.
i eat a lot.
i lay.
i tear up.
i pray more.
i miss home.
i love life.
i embrace malaysia.
i smile.
i sit.
i pray.
i make rice.
i chat.
i sip tea.
i watch.
i journal.
i stand.
i thank God.
i make coffee.
i observe.
i read.
i wash dishes.
i breathe.
i learn.
i blog.
i follow.
i mess up.
i laugh.
i think.
i listen.
i sip coffee.
i eat.
i eat a lot.
i lay.
i tear up.
i pray more.
i miss home.
i love life.
i embrace malaysia.
Monday, January 31, 2011
on the other side of the world
for starters, i am safe and sound. at the moment i am sitting in the family room, with my brother, jeffery, and my auntie zam sipping green tea while they read and i am criss-cross on the shag rug with this nifty netbook.
so i made it to malaysia, and got through customs with my luggage pretty easy. it was interesting, but most of it was clear and simple to follow.
there was a guy with an AFS shirt there to pick me and max up from the airport. he then told me that i will be working in a down syndrome house with children and that i do have a permanent family but they are overseas right now. then he bought us bottled water, called a taxi and sent us off to the hotel.
once there i was informed that we arrove a day late for the orientation in malaysia. then we were rushed into the details of a scavenger hunt within kuala lumpur. we (the AFS kids) split into groups of five with a leader and had to use 10 ringgit to buy one toiletry item, one souvenir, and one post card with a stamp. we went out and walked the streets, used public transit (subways and monorail sorta systems).
let me say here: malaysia is beautiful! everything is so luscious. i constantly feel like i'm in a scene from the amazing race, with the little cars, and motor bikes weaving amongst the traffic. tropical plants are everywhere and the streets are covered with the most interesting shops, so much color. there are parts that look so worn in, oozing with stories to tell, but then you will drive on to see some modern shops made of such perfection. walking the streets was a blast. i was taken back by all that there was to admire and view. ah, exploration!!
moving on with my story: the mall we went to was in the bottom of the petronas twin towers! i believe it was five or so floors of shopping! my group was the first to finish and the only one that we each completed the list! oh yeah!
FF- i got baby lotion, a post card w/ stamp, & a pen.
there are around sixteen other kids but they are all in highschool. i am the only community service participant. they refer to it as "CSP" (so in the future, i will use that term). one girl is only fourteen! brave soldier living away from home for a year.
the next day we woke up and got our stuff together because the host families were arriving that morning to pick us all up. i however, am without a permanent family still. so my chapter president was taking me in on behave of my future family. we went up in front of the families and had to introduce ourselves in Malay (:
we all ate, had tea. then went our separate ways with our families. so, auntie zam and i went off towards her home. she asked if i would be okay with running errands, which of course i was more than okay with, so we got to run around town for a bit. after a while we were back at auntie zam's.
i then met jeffery, her son and uncle rosden, her husband. also, they have a daughter julie who is studying in france. she is only seventeen and has graduated high school and is in her first year of college! i'm extremely impressed.
the home is in a gated community and each home has a gate around their property. they have six cars, and a lovely home with a spanish style roof (my favorite!) along with quite a few cats. only one cat however, is allowed inside. the weather in malaysia allows for the homes to be open, so they have open doorways and windows all over, with covered seating outside. i feel very welcome and at peace here; it's a shame this isn't my host home..
so, all the AFS participants will meet up in two weeks to have an in depth orientation. they wanted us to each stay with our families a bit and experience the actual home life. so now, when we meet we will have actual scenarios to ask questions about or we can share with one another how we have been adjusting. this way we get more out of the orientation period.
---got distracted and now i am picking this back up on monday afternoon---
so at auntie zam's i was a bit tired and went upstairs for a nap. it was a perfect nap. outside it was drizzling, the windows were open with a breeze flowing through the room where i lay on a queen size down comforter bed. after my nap the family informed me that we were going out for dinner.
we ended up going to their club. it is apparently one of the top ten golf clubs in the world. they have thirty six holes and flood lights on the course at night so you can golf at any time. i am not sure the name of the place.. they apparently go out to eat there once a week. the food was incredible. it was open to the outside with this rich aroma due to all these stations placed throughout with men cooking all sorts of food. it was ah, i don't know how to explain it any better. top notch variety of malaysian cuisine with flair? how's that sound.
all the restaurants and businesses here are open to the outside. also, the shopping malls are mostly like that as well. they are strip centers or have openings up to the sky in the middle. (if that makes sense?).
on the way home from dinner we stopped at their friend's home to show me the dogs. they have four dogs, four birds, and sixteen cats. sounds awful, right? but it isn't! it is so clean. the dogs have their own room, as do the birds, and the cats. this family has five cars i believe was the total and their house was beautiful as well. we had coffee and chatted for some good time, about till eleven something?
the next morning (Sunday) i woke up to the sound of rain to go to the market with auntie zam. but first she had got breakfast for everyone to eat together. it was nasi lemak with squid. it was white rice with fried egg, peanuts, these dried fish pieces, sauce, and squid. rather interesting.. but it was actually not bad at all. spicy and strange but tasty.
now the market, this was phenomenal. (i have photos. don't you fear). there, i met her friend auntie jenny who is a florist there at the market. then we got all sorts of fruits and vegetables. as well as beans, nuts, eggs, fish for the cats, and some sauces. after there we went to visit her sister.
at her sisters where it is still raining, we chatted then had lunch. her maids made four dishes and served coffee and fruits. then we went out to the garden where auntie zam was given some plants to take home with us. the garden was beautiful, as well as her home. i continue to be blown away with the homes, i love the feel of them.
then we went home to take the groceries.
later on we went to the other market where auntie zam gets her fish. there was fresh fish straight from the sea. we were there underneath umbrellas while the sky continued to pour. we also got some more local produce and looked for some sort of fresh cookies but ended up walking the wrong way in the rain so she settled without them this week.
then we came back to the house to unload and chit chat with the family for a bit. auntie zam got cleaned up then we went to the actual grocery store. this was extremely exciting for me because of the parking alone. so you park underneath the store and each spot has a light above it with a motion detector. when a car parks in the spot, the light turns red, but when it is open the spot is green. so when looking for a parking spot, you just glance at the ceiling for a green light!! ah, i always thought they needed a system like this but i always thought of using flags? this makes so much more sense. i was beyond excited. to top it off, they have the buggy system like whole foods in austin or how stores are in los angeles where they have the slanted escalator for the carts to ride on without rolling. i always get excited to see these.
in the store we got drinks (fruit juices, milk, water) and some items like cereal. they don't buy much in the grocery stores here. the carts are the size of our pharmacy buggies.
back to the house we go and uncle rosden was making bread butter pudding. we were having friends over to "tea" but ends up we were having coffee? we also ate the pudding then they decided to cook noodles. so we ate oranges and the pudding while i shared pictures of you all. we all sat around and chatted and ate then they smoked.
side note: they all smoke. everyone drinks coffee and loves tobacco.
more family showed up and we moved into the family room and sat around telling jokes and swapping stories for a couple hours. slowly everyone dispersed around ten thirty.
i was exhausted but stayed up a bit later with auntie zam and uncle rosden while they showed me some photos and what not. eventually by eleven thirty i was passed out.
i slept like a baby till nine thirty.
after i ate some breakfast and showered i hung out with uncle rosden. he was prepping food and watching discovery channel so i made us coffee. then he, jeffery, and i went out to buy me a phone. everyone here has fancy phones but i got the cheapest i could find.. which was actually only 90 ringgit. but then i bought minutes for 20 more ringgit, which is only fourteen minutes. i will have to continue to purchase minutes throughout the year.
well, i think i covered everything? so much has happened and i keep getting distracted chatting or helping out. i just want to post this and let y'all ask questions. i will try and write daily from here forth because recalling this much information is too tough.
i love you all and miss you!!
so i made it to malaysia, and got through customs with my luggage pretty easy. it was interesting, but most of it was clear and simple to follow.
there was a guy with an AFS shirt there to pick me and max up from the airport. he then told me that i will be working in a down syndrome house with children and that i do have a permanent family but they are overseas right now. then he bought us bottled water, called a taxi and sent us off to the hotel.
once there i was informed that we arrove a day late for the orientation in malaysia. then we were rushed into the details of a scavenger hunt within kuala lumpur. we (the AFS kids) split into groups of five with a leader and had to use 10 ringgit to buy one toiletry item, one souvenir, and one post card with a stamp. we went out and walked the streets, used public transit (subways and monorail sorta systems).
let me say here: malaysia is beautiful! everything is so luscious. i constantly feel like i'm in a scene from the amazing race, with the little cars, and motor bikes weaving amongst the traffic. tropical plants are everywhere and the streets are covered with the most interesting shops, so much color. there are parts that look so worn in, oozing with stories to tell, but then you will drive on to see some modern shops made of such perfection. walking the streets was a blast. i was taken back by all that there was to admire and view. ah, exploration!!
moving on with my story: the mall we went to was in the bottom of the petronas twin towers! i believe it was five or so floors of shopping! my group was the first to finish and the only one that we each completed the list! oh yeah!
FF- i got baby lotion, a post card w/ stamp, & a pen.
there are around sixteen other kids but they are all in highschool. i am the only community service participant. they refer to it as "CSP" (so in the future, i will use that term). one girl is only fourteen! brave soldier living away from home for a year.
the next day we woke up and got our stuff together because the host families were arriving that morning to pick us all up. i however, am without a permanent family still. so my chapter president was taking me in on behave of my future family. we went up in front of the families and had to introduce ourselves in Malay (:
we all ate, had tea. then went our separate ways with our families. so, auntie zam and i went off towards her home. she asked if i would be okay with running errands, which of course i was more than okay with, so we got to run around town for a bit. after a while we were back at auntie zam's.
i then met jeffery, her son and uncle rosden, her husband. also, they have a daughter julie who is studying in france. she is only seventeen and has graduated high school and is in her first year of college! i'm extremely impressed.
the home is in a gated community and each home has a gate around their property. they have six cars, and a lovely home with a spanish style roof (my favorite!) along with quite a few cats. only one cat however, is allowed inside. the weather in malaysia allows for the homes to be open, so they have open doorways and windows all over, with covered seating outside. i feel very welcome and at peace here; it's a shame this isn't my host home..
so, all the AFS participants will meet up in two weeks to have an in depth orientation. they wanted us to each stay with our families a bit and experience the actual home life. so now, when we meet we will have actual scenarios to ask questions about or we can share with one another how we have been adjusting. this way we get more out of the orientation period.
---got distracted and now i am picking this back up on monday afternoon---
so at auntie zam's i was a bit tired and went upstairs for a nap. it was a perfect nap. outside it was drizzling, the windows were open with a breeze flowing through the room where i lay on a queen size down comforter bed. after my nap the family informed me that we were going out for dinner.
we ended up going to their club. it is apparently one of the top ten golf clubs in the world. they have thirty six holes and flood lights on the course at night so you can golf at any time. i am not sure the name of the place.. they apparently go out to eat there once a week. the food was incredible. it was open to the outside with this rich aroma due to all these stations placed throughout with men cooking all sorts of food. it was ah, i don't know how to explain it any better. top notch variety of malaysian cuisine with flair? how's that sound.
all the restaurants and businesses here are open to the outside. also, the shopping malls are mostly like that as well. they are strip centers or have openings up to the sky in the middle. (if that makes sense?).
on the way home from dinner we stopped at their friend's home to show me the dogs. they have four dogs, four birds, and sixteen cats. sounds awful, right? but it isn't! it is so clean. the dogs have their own room, as do the birds, and the cats. this family has five cars i believe was the total and their house was beautiful as well. we had coffee and chatted for some good time, about till eleven something?
the next morning (Sunday) i woke up to the sound of rain to go to the market with auntie zam. but first she had got breakfast for everyone to eat together. it was nasi lemak with squid. it was white rice with fried egg, peanuts, these dried fish pieces, sauce, and squid. rather interesting.. but it was actually not bad at all. spicy and strange but tasty.
now the market, this was phenomenal. (i have photos. don't you fear). there, i met her friend auntie jenny who is a florist there at the market. then we got all sorts of fruits and vegetables. as well as beans, nuts, eggs, fish for the cats, and some sauces. after there we went to visit her sister.
at her sisters where it is still raining, we chatted then had lunch. her maids made four dishes and served coffee and fruits. then we went out to the garden where auntie zam was given some plants to take home with us. the garden was beautiful, as well as her home. i continue to be blown away with the homes, i love the feel of them.
then we went home to take the groceries.
later on we went to the other market where auntie zam gets her fish. there was fresh fish straight from the sea. we were there underneath umbrellas while the sky continued to pour. we also got some more local produce and looked for some sort of fresh cookies but ended up walking the wrong way in the rain so she settled without them this week.
then we came back to the house to unload and chit chat with the family for a bit. auntie zam got cleaned up then we went to the actual grocery store. this was extremely exciting for me because of the parking alone. so you park underneath the store and each spot has a light above it with a motion detector. when a car parks in the spot, the light turns red, but when it is open the spot is green. so when looking for a parking spot, you just glance at the ceiling for a green light!! ah, i always thought they needed a system like this but i always thought of using flags? this makes so much more sense. i was beyond excited. to top it off, they have the buggy system like whole foods in austin or how stores are in los angeles where they have the slanted escalator for the carts to ride on without rolling. i always get excited to see these.
in the store we got drinks (fruit juices, milk, water) and some items like cereal. they don't buy much in the grocery stores here. the carts are the size of our pharmacy buggies.
back to the house we go and uncle rosden was making bread butter pudding. we were having friends over to "tea" but ends up we were having coffee? we also ate the pudding then they decided to cook noodles. so we ate oranges and the pudding while i shared pictures of you all. we all sat around and chatted and ate then they smoked.
side note: they all smoke. everyone drinks coffee and loves tobacco.
more family showed up and we moved into the family room and sat around telling jokes and swapping stories for a couple hours. slowly everyone dispersed around ten thirty.
i was exhausted but stayed up a bit later with auntie zam and uncle rosden while they showed me some photos and what not. eventually by eleven thirty i was passed out.
i slept like a baby till nine thirty.
after i ate some breakfast and showered i hung out with uncle rosden. he was prepping food and watching discovery channel so i made us coffee. then he, jeffery, and i went out to buy me a phone. everyone here has fancy phones but i got the cheapest i could find.. which was actually only 90 ringgit. but then i bought minutes for 20 more ringgit, which is only fourteen minutes. i will have to continue to purchase minutes throughout the year.
well, i think i covered everything? so much has happened and i keep getting distracted chatting or helping out. i just want to post this and let y'all ask questions. i will try and write daily from here forth because recalling this much information is too tough.
i love you all and miss you!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
while over the pacific..
holy guacamole. i am on the plane to hong kong! -no, there isn't internet service so i will be posting this later.. but i wrote it while aboard.
speaking of which.. i believe i will possibly be doing that for all my posts. (no not getting on a plane each time i wish to write..) but i will record daily and post weekly? we will see. depends how my life in malaysia turns out.
i still have no clue what i will offically be doing and i still have no permanent family. this is what i know: fly to hong kong, have a lay over, fly to kuala lumpur, find AFS staff in a blue shirt, trust them, go to a four day orientation, and then i meet up with my welcome family where i will only be a couple of weeks.
that's all i know. so don't feel out of the loop. i am just as clueless. God is teaching me to live in the moment. i have also already begun to appreciate the small things. such as, my pillow. or my toothbrush (i'm a brat with a sonicare.. or at least i was), or i already miss my apples... but i showed my appreication for those. ahah. but i have only been gone a couple days.. i have much more to learn and to grow to miss/look at in a new light.
(wow, something smells delicious! airplane food smells good?)
the kids i met at orientation were incredible. i learned a lot from them. we each came from differnent parts of america so we each brought something different to the table. literally. we always seemed to be at a table now that i think about it. any who, they are all in high school and going during their junior year. most all of them only for six months.. but still. brave soldiers. i'm into them. they all had a lot of character and interesting outlooks.
LAX: i was like a five year old meeting santa claus at the mall.. the AFS staff leader was getting a kick out of my excitement and number of photos i was taking. i told him i had to document for all you fools! ;) well maybe for myself too.... hah. but it was so modern, with shopping even before you went through security. it was movie worthy, i must say. plus, the workers were so polite and helpful. (i already felt like i wasn't in america.. ahah).
well, i eventually ended up at my gate and waited with the many many others. however, i was one of five, i believe was the total i came to, white folk. so stares were already starting.. however, it could have been my talking on the phone, walking around with bright luggage, and taking photos of everything... i'll admit to that.
mmm. just noticed they are serving warm coke. sick. we are still in america! what are they thinking.. well actually i am over the pacific. warm coke wins the battle. (not in my belly, theirs only)
FF: each seat has it's own tv system. on it you can not only watch movies and tv but you can listen to music. i went through all these albums and picked out specific songs i wanted to hear and then it totaled up the time length of the entire playlist.
then there is a flight countdown of the length of time remaining. i got excited about that.. saved my brain power.
ooh. dinner was just served. i chose "chicken with soy sauce, steamed rice, shiitake mushrooms and spring onion" also included: marinated prawns with orzo pasta salad, raspberry cheese cake, and a roll. then i got green tea!
-just ate. the chicken was funky.. i didn't eat much but the veggies were suberb and the rice was, wonderful. i love rice.. so i will survive. then the orzo was real tasty. the cheesecake, i didn't bother to be honest. but solid tea.
J-KAT & MINA: they have the full glee cast albums. naturally, i had to play "like a virgin" for y'all.
okay dokay.. i'm gonna go read and try and figure out the power strip system to charge this bad boy.
thought: first time i'm in a plane that makes sense to have life jackets. better not need 'em.
local time in HKG: 16:07
speaking of which.. i believe i will possibly be doing that for all my posts. (no not getting on a plane each time i wish to write..) but i will record daily and post weekly? we will see. depends how my life in malaysia turns out.
i still have no clue what i will offically be doing and i still have no permanent family. this is what i know: fly to hong kong, have a lay over, fly to kuala lumpur, find AFS staff in a blue shirt, trust them, go to a four day orientation, and then i meet up with my welcome family where i will only be a couple of weeks.
that's all i know. so don't feel out of the loop. i am just as clueless. God is teaching me to live in the moment. i have also already begun to appreciate the small things. such as, my pillow. or my toothbrush (i'm a brat with a sonicare.. or at least i was), or i already miss my apples... but i showed my appreication for those. ahah. but i have only been gone a couple days.. i have much more to learn and to grow to miss/look at in a new light.
(wow, something smells delicious! airplane food smells good?)
the kids i met at orientation were incredible. i learned a lot from them. we each came from differnent parts of america so we each brought something different to the table. literally. we always seemed to be at a table now that i think about it. any who, they are all in high school and going during their junior year. most all of them only for six months.. but still. brave soldiers. i'm into them. they all had a lot of character and interesting outlooks.
LAX: i was like a five year old meeting santa claus at the mall.. the AFS staff leader was getting a kick out of my excitement and number of photos i was taking. i told him i had to document for all you fools! ;) well maybe for myself too.... hah. but it was so modern, with shopping even before you went through security. it was movie worthy, i must say. plus, the workers were so polite and helpful. (i already felt like i wasn't in america.. ahah).
well, i eventually ended up at my gate and waited with the many many others. however, i was one of five, i believe was the total i came to, white folk. so stares were already starting.. however, it could have been my talking on the phone, walking around with bright luggage, and taking photos of everything... i'll admit to that.
mmm. just noticed they are serving warm coke. sick. we are still in america! what are they thinking.. well actually i am over the pacific. warm coke wins the battle. (not in my belly, theirs only)
FF: each seat has it's own tv system. on it you can not only watch movies and tv but you can listen to music. i went through all these albums and picked out specific songs i wanted to hear and then it totaled up the time length of the entire playlist.
then there is a flight countdown of the length of time remaining. i got excited about that.. saved my brain power.
ooh. dinner was just served. i chose "chicken with soy sauce, steamed rice, shiitake mushrooms and spring onion" also included: marinated prawns with orzo pasta salad, raspberry cheese cake, and a roll. then i got green tea!
-just ate. the chicken was funky.. i didn't eat much but the veggies were suberb and the rice was, wonderful. i love rice.. so i will survive. then the orzo was real tasty. the cheesecake, i didn't bother to be honest. but solid tea.
J-KAT & MINA: they have the full glee cast albums. naturally, i had to play "like a virgin" for y'all.
okay dokay.. i'm gonna go read and try and figure out the power strip system to charge this bad boy.
thought: first time i'm in a plane that makes sense to have life jackets. better not need 'em.
local time in HKG: 16:07
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
time change
i started a flickr (online photo album). the link is on the right hand side, underneath the donation box. ch-ch-check it out!
and. just so you know.. i changed my date and time setting to be on kuala lumpur time. that's all folks.
and. just so you know.. i changed my date and time setting to be on kuala lumpur time. that's all folks.
airports galor
it's official, the journey has begun.last night (monday night) i pulled an all nighter in preping for the trip. i had planned to wake up at six in the morning regardless so it wasn't too bad. the time flew by with my perfectionist style of packing and making lists to double check lists..
SO. i shipped out this morning from the livable forest at seven.
i flew to denver at 8:45 sharp. this is where i busted out the horse-shoe pillow and drooled. i won't deny it. hopefully the little bit of drool that woke me up was all that came out.. i didn't ask the gentleman next to me..
then had a short lay over around an hour and a half, then i flew out to los angeles. where i also passed out. this time i had a window seat with nobody sitting in between me and this lady.
i did happen to awake once we were coming into los angeles. it is massive! i lucked out in sitting on the side of the plane that faced the HOLLYWOOD sign. although we were far away, i knew what to look for. let me say, i feel that i am more apart of movies and tv shows now. i have a connection. ahah. i wanted so badly to travel by foot around the city but i had an intinerary with a company expecting my presence.
so i grabbed my suitcase, that i believe weighs a slight bit too much, and went to find the shuttles. i got to sit outside and enjoy that clean LA air for fifteen minutes before boarding this dinky shuttle to Hacienda Hotel. FF (fun fact for those who don't know my cool lingo..) this hotel is apparently one of the most popular places for international travelers in los angeles. they might have said the number one but i won't claim that much fame. it is a neat spanish style hotel.. i'm into it. it isn't a five star hotel but it has character.
once here i dilly dallied (sp?) and chit chatted on skype. but come 17:00 AFS had me on a schedule. i'm into it all so far. there are ten kids here. they are all mostly sixteen, a couple seventeen. then there is me... nineteen. however, they are going for high school while i am volunteering and working to fully adopt a culture. also, eight of them are going to new zealand and one guy is going to malaysia for school. we all got along quite well and played some fun games. we got to eat at a restaurant here at the hotel for dinner and pick anything off the menu, AFS bought.
naturally, the Malaysian consulate general was suppose to join us for dinner but never showed... malaysia is not the most popular country for americans.. at all. so they haven't been able to follow their regualar rountine assistance for me, not one bit. in fact i was having to complete a survey on how all these different activities assisted in my preparation.. and out of seven activities... i only did two. (not my fault, they were never an option).
also, the community service year is not a common choice. so it is weird for them to be sending someone off in my situation.. these workers here in LA know less than the ones in malaysia apparently. i believe i will get a further debriefing upon my arrival in kuala lumper. the staff here doesn't know any more than me about what i will be doing exactly for my service and why i only have a temporary welcome placement family.
so tomorrow i have a pretty solid booked day with AFS, completing my gateway orientation, including watching Whale Rider? thoughts on that, anyone? then i head for LAX at 19:30 and fly out for hong kong at 22:20 --sorry all my times are odd with using world time and going in and out of different time zones. soon, it will just be malaysia's time, so set yo clocks fools! -or not and google the time like yours truly..
all i can do is pray that God protects me, placing me in a home and giving me a job that are in his will. plus, laughing about it helps too. i would be the person in this bizarre situation, but i know the Lord will take care of me and his angels are watching over me.
keep me in your prayers. life is about to get extreme.
Monday, January 24, 2011
panic attack.
down to counting hours.. it's almost time to take off. i still have quite a few things to accomplish before i can get on that plane:
*find a water proof camera case
*call the bank to fix their mistake
*buy a cheap childs watch for usa time
*find texas and usa flags (the cheap little parade ones)
*get my hair trimmed
*clean out my car
*ship back undesired shoes
*register bags online to sell
*print recipes
*learn common Malay lingo.. yes i still don't know any
*oh yeah, and PACK!!!
i have today.. and then i leave. holy molee.
i attempted a first round of packing my bag. yes one bag. it can total a solid 44lbs for one year... without any clothes, the bag was 42lbs.... i had to sit down and catch my breath. then i started pulling out this-thats and what-nots. time to lose my american ways.
-side note. should i start capitalizing, and going back into the story-
i have always been an over packer. i love to be prepared. i am the weirdo who packs a pair of boots in the spring or a rain jacket in the winter. i always bring pants, capris, shorts no matter the time of year.. maybe this is because i have grown up in houston where the weather changes every fifteen minutes, as every old fella in these parts will tell ya.
nevertheless, it is now down to the wire. cross your toes kiddos!
t-tobin8tor.
*find a water proof camera case
*call the bank to fix their mistake
*buy a cheap childs watch for usa time
*find texas and usa flags (the cheap little parade ones)
*get my hair trimmed
*clean out my car
*ship back undesired shoes
*register bags online to sell
*print recipes
*learn common Malay lingo.. yes i still don't know any
*oh yeah, and PACK!!!
i have today.. and then i leave. holy molee.
i attempted a first round of packing my bag. yes one bag. it can total a solid 44lbs for one year... without any clothes, the bag was 42lbs.... i had to sit down and catch my breath. then i started pulling out this-thats and what-nots. time to lose my american ways.
-side note. should i start capitalizing, and going back into the story-
i have always been an over packer. i love to be prepared. i am the weirdo who packs a pair of boots in the spring or a rain jacket in the winter. i always bring pants, capris, shorts no matter the time of year.. maybe this is because i have grown up in houston where the weather changes every fifteen minutes, as every old fella in these parts will tell ya.
nevertheless, it is now down to the wire. cross your toes kiddos!
t-tobin8tor.
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